25 Days to Go - Like Baking a Cake

There are hundreds of different ways to make a cake, and for each of those methods there are at least a dozen completely different recipes. If you've never made a cake before, you can either follow the recipe to the letter or you can combine your favorite elements from different ones. No matter what you do, you will not know if your creation was a success until it is baked, cooled, frosted, served and finally tasted.

That is exactly how this competition is. There are a hundred different diets and exercise regimes which could all lead to incredible results but it is impossible to know which one is best for me. The last month of training some people go high fat and protein with no carbs, some stick to balanced macronutrients, while others may cut out fats and increase their protein and carb intake. For instance, Alex's diet involves a burger and fries followed by ice scream for dessert and it works for her.

This is my first time going through this competition and I am trying very hard to listen to just one person, but sometimes things just don't feel right to me. For example, right now I am eating very low calories and I am dropping an insane amount of weight. Last week I dropped 3 lbs and I don't know if that is muscle or fat. I don't know if I will drop again next week or if I will maintain. Should I do 30 minutes of cardio a day or only a few times a week? What others have advised me to do, and what I should do is stick to the recipe originally designed for me. The baking process is almost done and I won't know the result of my hard work until I am tanned, frosted, and on stage.

Speaking of cake, let me tell you what my mind has been on for the last 3 days, my post-competition meal. I am going to head straight to the Cheesecake Factory, order a small salad with chicken, then ask for the dessert menu. I will order a coffee and three of my favorite chocolate cakes; the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, the Black-Out Cake, and the Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake. When I literally can't have anymore because I am physically ill, I will let others try them. I am so excited I could die. Can you say sugar hiiiigh!

Day 18 - Everything Hurts

Let me tell you about 80's Roller Skate Night in one Picture:


Day 18 was pretty perfect. I had all my meals as planned and pushed through a kick ass leg workout.

Plyometric Warm Up:
- 6 forward box jumps, 6 high step ups
- 6 side box jumps on each side, 6 high side step ups on each side
- 6 rotational box jumps, 6 high crossover step ups on each side
- Tabata step ups holding 20 lbs (ask me and I can explain, these are intense)

Workout (3 sets)
- Deadlifts 10-12 reps (I used 80lbs)
- Front Squats 12-15 reps (I used 50lbs)
- Leg raises 15 reps

We started to do our sprint workout, but our legs were shot from the night of roller skating and squats. It's good to push through pain, but when joints start to act up, its time to rest. Listen to your body. Every part of my body is sore, and this tends to be the trend by Friday.

I had an amazing post workout meal and I increased my carbs as Maria recommended. Below is my broccoli and tomato salad, quarter avocado, 4 oz of chicken, and a juice (beet, celery, 1/2 an apple, parsley).



I don't even recognize the girl from day 16. What on earth got over me? the cravings for chocolate are gone, I'm not starving. I think Maria was right, I wasn't getting enough carbs around my workouts. It also helps to think about my competitor. Now, I look forward to hunger and pain. When my stomach grumbles, I'm like, "take that, I'm hungrier than you!" and when I can't lift my arms, I nod my head and smile because I am awesome.

My abs are starting to form a shape, I have that little "V" on my lower stomach. I was so excited I ran to Larissa to show her. She is weirdly supportive of everything I do and say, which is great. I know that even if my abs look the same she will pump me up. Love you, Larissa! We all need a friend like her, sometimes realistic can hold you back.

I ran out of food, so I meandered to Lite Bite on Union Street for my second lunch. The owner is so accommodating. I got 5 oz of chicken and a half pound of grilled vegetables and they treated me to an iced tea.

For Dinner, we joined friends at 5A5. They apparently know the owner, so every now and then a waiter would show up with an amuse-bouche compliments of Steve. I did have the hamachi shooter and a crab leg, but for dinner I had the filet mignon and the entire side dish of spinach; the whole table teased me for not sharing. The last surprise from Steve was a chocolate plate filled with 7 unique desserts. The best one, I hear, was the liquid chocolate dome. Here is a picture of my friend, Chad, drinking wine while eating the flour-less chocolate cake. I sipped on my back coffee and didn't even crave a bite. The photo below really happened.



I'm doing ok, and I am looking forward to resting my body over the weekend.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Days 12 and 13 - Guess What I Made?

I wake up every Saturday excited for brunch. I love pancakes, coffee, eggs, fresh fruit, oatmeal loaded with maple syrup... I love breakfast. It reminds me of college mornings with your friends and the randoms who woke up on your floor, weekends at home, and eating at hotels. I love breakfast and I am sick of eggs with rice and salsa.

Lucky for me, Maria has this amazing, life saving recipe that allows me to indulge without cheating. Oatmeal Pancakes!



Recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes (1 serving):

• 1/2 cup raw steel oats
• 6 egg whites
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 1 tbsp Raw Almond Butter

 Mix all ingredients together the night before and let them set in the fridge.

In the morning heat up a non-greased pan on medium low. Scoop out 1/4 cup of the batter on the pan. It is ready to flip when it no longer sticks to the pan, about 2-4 minutes. I used the 1 tbsp (1 oz) of almond butter as a topping.
Ali wanted me to let everyone know that the pancakes are inedible to anyone who eats real pancakes and bread. However, if you are on a restricted diet these will satisfy your cravings.

I have a problem with portion control when it comes to almond butter, so I measured it into small containers.





I enjoyed my oatmeal pancakes with a cup of sugar free mocha.

Recipe for Sugar Free Mocha:

• 1 tbsp sugar free cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup Rice Milk
• 2-4 cups brewed coffee
• Optional - 1 tsp Xylitol for sweetness

Mix 1 tbsp cocoa powder with 1/4 cup rice milk until it is completely dissolved. Try not to drink it before you add in the coffee. Once you add the coffee you can add Xylitol if you really need the sweetness.


This weekend I am resting my body. I am finally not sore anymore and am looking forward to working out on Monday.

All my meals were balanced and on track, except for my last meal on Saturday. Because I woke up later than usual, I only got in 3 meals for the day. After a hike on Angel Island, I was exhausted and starving. Ali and I went to our favorite Persian Restaurant for dinner and I already knew what to order, Barg (3-4 oz thin Filet Mignon) with vegetables.

When I gave my order to the waitress, she told me it came with rice and that they wouldn't substitute. I ordered the Filet Mignon with veggies instead. It took longer than usual to make and I was really bummed when they finally brought it out; a huge piece of meat with 3 spears of asparagus and tons of Persian fries (yes, potatoes are veggies). I didn't eat the fries, but I devoured the rest. Afterward, I realized it may have been too much meat. I asked the waitress how many ounces it was and died laughing when she told me 12. I ate 3 times what I should have. After I logged my food I realized I was within my daily caloric intake, however, the portions were out of their normal ranges.

On Sunday, the scale bumped up less than a pound, but I know it's mostly water retention from throwing my system off. I should get back down by Tuesday. My goal is to lose another 2 lbs this week.

I am still cranky and hungry, but if I stick to my 4 meals a day and plan them out the night before, I will be fine. This week will be amazing. Larissa and I are going to refocus and help each other through this.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 10 - Eating Like a Dog

I am eating like my dog, which is actually a good thing. Napoleon has severe skin allergies so I only feed him duck and potatoes, unless I run out of food, then I boil rice, chicken and carrots for him. I would never give him chocolate, processed foods, pizza, booze, ice cream, or coffee. So why do I feed myself that?

I am eating cleaner than ever and today when Napoleon came begging for food, I realized I could actually share my baked chicken and yam with him.

Yesterday, I cheated with a quarter of a cantaloupe and 12 cashews. If it's not part of my meal plan it could throw off my body's ph balance or whatever Glen, my nutrition coach, keeps telling me. The first few days I was always full, dreading my next meal, but now I am getting hungrier. Because I am gaining muscle, my metabolism is picking up therefore I need more calories to maintain my weight. Since I am trying to get smaller, I am going to be in a constant state of hunger.

This morning I tried kale juice again, but I added lemon juice and an apple instead of beet root, which made it absolutely delicious. I can't wait to have it again, but I will need to save it for my second meal of the day. I feel hungry sooner in the day if I don't eat rice for my first meal.

Larissa, my workout buddy, and I focused on legs and shoulders today. I was exhausted afterward, but I knew I needed the cardio. The minimum I allow myself is 5 sprints, so I gave myself shorter rest periods to get through it.

Legs 4 sets of 15 reps, 3 different exercises.
Shoulders 4 sets of 12-15 reps, 2 different exercise.
Cardio: 1 min at 6mph, 1 min at 9.0 mph for 5 rounds.
 

At noon, I went to Aha Yoga. After class, I was so hungry I ran to Corsagna Deli to get a tuna salad packed with veggies. The plan was to go home and eat it, but I never made it. I plopped down on a small table with two chairs in front of the tiny shop and dug in.

This skinny brunette asked if she could share the space, and I just nodded as I stuffed a fork full of tuna and broccoli in my mouth. She slowly unwrapped a panini, oozing with mozzarella and a small bag of kettle chips. I started imagining what I would eat after the competition. Larissa and I already decided on an entire box of Ghiradelli chocolate chip brownies and Haagen-Daz ice cream, 3 different flavors. We said that would be our only bad food, but now I am envisioning melted cheese; melted cheese on pizza, in between toast, on tortilla chips, on soup, on a fork. In other news, my husband had pizza for dinner tonight while I chomped down on spaghetti squash and steak, again.


Glen called to see how the diet was coming along. I told him about my Texas troubles and he offered me a few alternatives. My new emergency food is 3-4 oz  of sodium, oil, and preservative free tuna or chicken, 2 rice cakes, and a few almonds. Why didn't he tell me this before the trip?

On a side note, I do feel amazing on this diet. Muscles are starting to show, my energy is at an all time high, and my skin is glowing. I remember when I would eat a burger, then crash immediately after. Your body reacts to what you eat, if you poison it you will feel drowsy or crave sugar because you've thrown of your balance.I think next week I will start posting photos of my progress.

Oh! Julia Walsh, an editor at PopSugar, wrote this amazing article about me: http://sf.popsugar.com/Linda-Niazi-AllyBod-Training-BodyLabSF-Cow-Hollow-18995807

Day 1 - So Excited

Today is my first day of dieting and training. I am so excited to start this journey.

Yesterday, I spent 1 hour baking yams and squashes, grilling turkey and chicken, and measuring rice into tupperware. If food isn't ready, it will be harder for me to stay on track.

Last night was my last cheat. I sinfully enjoyed some whole grain pasta and olive bread with hummus. Then, for dessert, I devoured a Ghiradelli double chocolate brownie sundae with my husband. Way too many carbs, but I felt no guilt. I know the next two months will be the hardest ever.

I've already made a few mistakes with my diet. I poured way too much rice milk in my coffee which put me 60 calories over my goal. I also ate too much rice for my breakfast meal. I will see how I feel by the end of the day and adjust for tomorrow accordingly.60 calories may seem like nothing at all, but I plan of getting through this competition naturally, so I have to keep my macronutrients dialed.

I am working on upper body today. The workout should be less than an hour. Immediately after, I will enjoy the meal pictured above.